Zijad Džafić je rođen 26.08.1970. godine u Gračanici, gde je završio osnovnu i srednju školu. Diplomirao je, magistrirao i doktorirao na Ekonomskom fakultetu Univerziteta u Tuzli. Ispred Ekonomskog fakulteta Univerziteta u Tuzli boravio je na specijalizaciji iz oblasti ekonomskih nauka na Univerzitetu u Bolonji (Italija), školske 1996/97 godine. U Bolonji je učestvovao u svim inicijativama koje je organizovao „Europe and Balkans International Network“, i sarađivao u organizaciji kongresa i okruglih stolova. Na Ekonomskom fakultetu u Tuzli biran je u nastavnička zvanja, od asistenta do vanrednog profesora. Na istom fakultetu vrši dužnost prodekana za naučno-istraživački rad. Do sada je obavio niz studijskih posjeta drugim univerzitetima u inostranstvu, od kojih su najznačajniji: University of Bologna (Italija), University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki (Grčka), The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies and Joint Vienna Institute Residence, Beč, Austrija,  University of Leoben, Austrija. Na Ekonomskom fakultetu u Brčkom predaje Mikroekonomiju. Do sada je objavio preko 50 naučnih i stručnih radova u zemlji i inostranstvu, kao i 3 udžbenika, te učestvovao u 8 naučno-istraživačkih projekata. Aktivno govori italijanski i engleski jezik.

1. Džafić, Z., Tatić, K., Rovčanin, A., (2006), Globalization, Competitiveness and Environment, Ekonomic research, Fakultet ekonomije i turizma „Dr. Mijo Mirković, Pula, Vol.19, No 2: 29-40, Orginal scientific paper,  www.efpu.hr
2. Džafić, Z., (2007), Financial aspect of SMEs sector development in the Western Balkan Countries, Ekonomic research, Fakultet ekonomije i turizma „Dr. Mijo Mirković, Pula, Vol.20, No 1, 76-88, www.efpu.hr
3. Džafić, Z., (2008), The diferent form of financing of Small and Medium Enterprises  in Bosnia and Herzegovina, CHALLENGES  OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES IN THE 21st CENTURY, Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the IES, Belgrade, 12:  252-259, www.ien.bg.ac.yu
4. Džafić, Z., (2008), Development of Small and Medium Enterprises: B&H compared to other Western Balkans Countries, Economic Analysis, Belgrade, No 1-2., 89-99., www.ien.bg.ac.yu Indeksiran časopis, rad referian u: ABI/INFORM Global and EconLit.
5. Džafić, Z., (2008), Governmental policies for development of Small and Medium Enterprises  in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Other Countries in Transition, Proceedings of the International Conference for Entrepreneurship, Innovative and Regional Development, ICEIRD, 8th-11th May, Skopje & Ohrid, Macedonia, 178-188
6. Džafić, Z., (2008), The diferent form of financing of Small and Medium Enterprises  in Bosnia and Herzegovina, CHALLENGES  OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES IN THE 21st CENTURY, Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference on the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the IES, Belgrade, 12:  252-259, www.ien.bg.ac.yu
7. Džafić, Z., (2008), Development of Small and Medium Enterprises: B&H compared to other Western Balkans Countries, Economic Analysis, ORGINAL PAPERS, Belgrade, No 1-2., 89-99., www.ien.bg.ac.yu Indeksiran časopis, rad referian u: ABI/INFORM Global and EconLit.
8. Džafić, Z, (2009), The new role of government in supporting entrepreneurship in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Proceedings of the International Conference in Portorož, Slovenia, pag. 538-546.
9. Džafić, Z., Zahirović, S., i dr (2011) Internal and External   Obstacles to  the Development of SMEs in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian Economic Survey, Ekonomski institut, Zagreb, No.13, p. 143-171., 2011.